Folding tooth-brush.



A. H. HILL. FOLDING TOOTH BRUSH. APPLICATION FILED AUG-18, 1917.

Patented May 14, 1918.

53:59am gg citiz'en of the United States,

York, in

- wherein the bristle holder,

Be it known. that I, ARTHUR H. HILL, a

Yorkand State the county of New,

useful of New York, have invented new an Imprwements in which the followin is a specification;

. This invention re ates to improvementsm toothbrushes, the primary object of the invention bein to provide a toothbrush where-1 mounted hollow handle forming .a receptacle into which the bristle holder is adapted to be folded, whereby the brush may'be disposed in compact form so' as to be easily, conveniently and inconspicuously carried -m the pocket or in a handbag for use wherever desired. f A further object of the invention is to ro-. vide a toothbrush of the character de ed when in folded protected against the accondition, will be to be kept in a cess of dust and dlrt so as sanitary state, wherein provision is made to secure ample ventilation for the drying out of .the bristles after use, vision is further made for holdin holder securely in folded and un and wherein prothe bristle olded: posi:

tions.

A still further obj ect' ofthe invention is to brush wherein the hollow handle serves as a reservoirfor powder or other dentifrice into which the bristles may be provide a dipped when desired, combined with means claimed, reference bein panying the same, x v I Fig. 3 1s a rear end elevation.

v bristle holder 1 and a hollow handle 2 form-' for normally closing the powder chamber The invention consists of the features of construction, of parts, hereinafter fully described and had to the accomdrawing, in w ich: Figu 1 is a side'elevation, with parts 3 broken away and in section of a toothbrush holder f embodyinlg' my invention,-

0 Fig. 2 is a verti howing' the bristle 'al longitudinal section of Figs and 5a're transverse sections on the line's1-'-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1. v

In the practical embodiment of my inven-v tion I provide a folding brush comprising a ing a reservoir or casing to receive the bristles when the bristle holder is in folded conifrorinmei'roo-eausn."

residing'at New- Folding Tooth-Brushes, of

pivotally member combination and arrangement and open positions, respectively,

thereof to an extent-coextensive with the the back 3 is formed with an opening 6, for a purpose hereinafter described.

extent of the bristles tang 4, and adjacent to this The handle'2 is of proper size to snugly receive the bristle holder and consists of a- "receptacle open at one side and end and formed of parallel side walls 7, a bottom. wall 8 and a rear end wall 9,v the handle being open at its top and forward end to receive the body and tang-of the bristle holder. As shown,"the tang 5 fits between the forward ends of the side walls 7 and is secured thereto by 'a pivot pin or 10-, on which the bristle holder is adapted to nal alinement withthe handle for, use and to swing backwardly into the handle so as to be folded in closecompass for storage or transportation.

- The side walls 7 are provided with longitudinal' slits 11 at their forward ends, which slits extend a short distance inwardly therefrom to partially separate the forward por- The i1, eci cation Letters Patent Patented May 1 1i, 1913. l err iatin as August-18; 1911. Serial to. 188,895.

daioii. The bristle holder 1 consists of a 4 back 3, of metal, bone, celluloid or any other I y swing outwardly into longitudi- I tion ,of the bottom wall S'from said side walls,thereby providing a yielding tongue I 12. This tongue 1s adapted for cooperation with the flattened bottom and topfsurfaces 13and 14' and corner portions 15 and 16 of the tang 5, to secure a desired spring action for holding the bristle holder in outspread and folded positions. The distance between the pivot point 10 of the tang and the faces 13 and 14; is somewhat greater than the distance between such pivot point and the upper surface ofthe tongue 12, when said tongue is in its fully elevated position, so that when the bristle holder is in its closed the tongue is slightly depressed and bears frictionall upon the surface 13 or 1 1 tohold the brus in folded or open positions. In the movement of the brush from closed to; open position, and vice versa, and 16. ride upon and depress the tongue 12, allowing the brush to be swung open or closed, as will be readily understood. The surface 14 is disposedbelow the plane of the outer or top .face of the brush back 3,

the corner surfaces 15 whereby a shoulder 17 is formed to abut against the outer end of the tongue 12 between said tongue when the bristle holder is open, thereby forming a rigid backing for the bristle holder when in position for use. The major portion of the bottom wall 8, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is depressed below the plane of the-tongue 12 and the rear wall 9, thus forming a chamber, pocket or reservoir 18 to recelve a charge 19 of dental powder or other desired dentifrice, the said bottom wall being incline from the tongue 12 to-the rear-wall whereby the access "the use of the brush,

if desired the bristle holder may 9 to gradually increase the depth of the pocket. I V

Formed in the side walls 7 in longitudinal alinement with the tongue 12 are guide grooves 20 to receive the side edges of a sliding shield or cover plate v21, which is employed for closing communication between the hollow handleand powder chamber under normal conditions, and thereby preventing contact of the-brush bristles with the dentifrice. The forward edge of this cover abuts against the inclined shoulder formed between the depressedportion of the bottom I wall and the tongue 12 to close the forward endof the powder chamber, and the rear wall 9'is formed with a guide slot 22 through which the rear end of the sliding cover projects, such end of the sliding cover being formed with an enlargement orfinger piece 23 whereby it may be gripped and moved to open or closed position. It will thus be understood that normally the slide will be in terposed between the bristles of the folded bristle holder and the charge of powder contained'in the out of contact with the brush bristles, and of dirt and dust to the powder or escape of the powder from the chamber will be prevented. The tang 5 is adapted to be rocked upon its pivot 10, so.

that the back 3 may be depressed by pressure thereon of the finger, upon the withdrawal of the sliding cover 21, which action will be permitted bythe yielding depression of thetongue 12, so that the brush bristles may be dipped into the powder to takeup a desired amount therefrom preliminary to In thus taking up a charge of powder, it will be understood that open and the brush bristles preliminarily moistened to facilitate this operation. After the requiredamount of powder is taken up the cover 2Lis closed and the bristle holde1 swung open for use in an obvious manner. In practlce, the construction of the brush is such that the device as a whole may be made 'of comparatively small size, so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket,

1n a hand bag or any other suitable receppreferably sloped or extending on an posed so that powder chamber, whereby the powder will be protected and kept dry and closed positions be swung tacle in an inconspicious manner, while when the bristle holder is open or extended a brush surface of proper, area for thorouiglhly brushing the teeth and a handle of su 'cient length to be conveniently grasped will be afforded. It will, ofcourse, be understood that the hollow handle or casing may be made of metal, celluloid, or an other suitable material, and that when the bristle holder and casing are made of metal they may be nickel-plated or otherwise suitably ornamented. The construction of the,

brush is also such that-a neat and attractive,

and if desired ornamental, article of. this character will be r the back 3 is such that when the bristle holder is folded the freeendof the back 3 will terminate just short of the, wall 9, leaving a ventilation space or passage 24. Thus produced. The length of when the bristle holder .is folded or closed the openings 6 and 24 will be provided at the ends of the casing for theinlet and exit of air, which will circulate through the brush bristles, whereby the bristles will be allowed to dry out and kept in a sanitarycondition. o

Having thus fully described my invention, claim:

, 1. A tooth. brush comprising a hollow handle formed to provide a bristle inclosing chamber, and a dentifrice reservoir at the bottom of said chamber and formed by the walls thereof and coinciding in length there-'1 with, a bristle holder-pivotally mounted for movement to 0 en and closed positions and adapted when the bristles extend into said bristle chamber, said holder being yieldingly mounted so that the bristles may be de pressed into the dentifrice reservoir, and a sliding partition separating and controlling Q communication between the chambers and against which the bristles normally abut in the closed position of the holder.

111 closed position to be dis-' 100 2. A tooth brush comprising a hollow' v handle forming a bristle receivin and a dentifrlce receiving chamEer at the bottom thereof, said chambers being substantially coextensive in length, said handle also having guide grooves in its side walls chamber and a guide opening in one of its walls, a 115 bristle holder pivoted at one end to one end of the and the dentifrice contained in the i in rear thereof, said depressed portion formin a dentifrice chamber coextensive in length with the body of the handle, a bristle holder comprising a back carrying bristles adapted to project into the handle when said holder'is in closed position, said holder be ing provided at one end with a tang pivotally connected to the side walls of the handle above said spring tongue and having surfaces for coaction with the tang to permit depression of the bristles into the dentifrice chamber when the holder is closed and -to hold said holder in folded and extended positions, and a sliding partition movable longitudinally of the handle and adapted to close communication between the bristles receiving chamber of the handle and the dentifrice chamber.

4. A toothbrush comprising a hollow handle open at top and one end, said handle including a bottom wall, side walls and a rear end wall, the bottom wall having a forward spring tongue and a depressed portion in rear thereof, said depressed portion forming a dentifrice chamber, and said side walls being provided with longitudinal grooves and the rear wall with a guide slot in line with said grooves, a sliding-cover for the reservoir engaging saidgrooves and slot, and a bristle holder comprising a back carrying bristles and having a tang pivotally connected to the side Walls of the handle above said spring tongue and having sur- ARTHUR H. HILL.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature. .c 

